Door County seniors tell what they want in a new center

Attendees were asked to place small orange stick-on dots on photos depicting possible activities in a new Door County Senior Center during a visioning session Tuesday afternoon. Dining and socializing were the top choices among the nearly 40 people participating.(Photo: Peter J. Devlin/For the Door County Advocate)Buy Photo

Room for dining, socializing and playing are the three top uses senior citizen see as important in a new Door County Senior Center.

Other ideas the seniors selected while attending a pair of visioning sessions in the current senior center building on 14th Avenue in Sturgeon Bay, included – in descending order – getting advice (counseling), learning, exercising, entertainment, gardening, care-giving and relaxing.

The center activities went on as usual Tuesday afternoon – including bingo and card games – while the first session was being conducted.

The proposed new building would be erected to the south of the existing senior center building. No discussion has yet occurred on what will become of the current building, according to Door County Building and Grounds Director Wayne Spritka.

Tuesday’s discussions were led by John Cain, from Milwaukee-based Venture Architects, the firm hired by Door County to develop a design for the new center.

Among other features seniors said they would like in the new building: a larger exercise room, a fireplace, skylights to let in natural light, a computer room, gift shop to sell craft items made by seniors, outdoor seating, a flower garden, trees, walking path and space where outside medical specialties could be offered.

Several also suggested the new center needs to have a bar.

While the County Board works out details for paying for a new building, a preliminary design is being fast-tracked, Door County Human Services Director Joe Krebsbach told the meeting participants. The board could get the design by late June, he said.

Although an exact figure hasn’t been determined, county officials are using $4 million as a working number for the total cost.

The county has about $1 million already set aside. Discussion on allocating another $1 million in county funds has not yet started.

A recently formed nonprofit group called “Friends of the Senior Center” has filed for tax-exempt status from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service in order to seek tax-deductible donations to put toward the building project. The “Friends” group would raise the other $2 million, county officials have been told.